Metro

Community Protest Abandoned NDDC Road In Benin

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2021

State of the Uteh Road, Benin City.

Residents of Palace Road, Uteh Community, Benin in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State yesterday protested an abandoned road project by the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC)

The protesters made up of residents, Keke riders, bus drivers, and others blocked the ever-busy Upper Mission Extension, with placards bearing different inscriptions as: ‘NDDC should rise up to its responsibility’, ‘NDDC should wake-up from slumber’, ‘Project not done to specification’ among others.

Speaking, the Odionwere of the community, 74-year-old Pa.Robert Owen said the road was contracted to NDDC in 2014, adding that the commission did a little job and abandoned it halfway.

“This road leads to twelve communities and was awarded to NDDC in 2014. They did it halfway and abandoned it, till now there is no action. You can see the gully and no attention from the NDDC that stopped the work. We are calling on the Edo State Government to prevail on NDDC to come and complete the job. The road was done halfway and substandard,” he added.

Protesting residents and drivers yesterday

Also, Speaking, a shop owner, Mrs Doris Osayende, said the state of the road has effected her business negatively.

According to her, motorists avoid the road due to state of the road.

She said that whenever it rains the road will be completely flooded.

“This road has become a problem, that is why I have to construct a fence round my shop. Many times, flood enter my shop and spoil my rice and provisions. I am pleading to the government to come to our aids”, she said.

Also speaking, Mr Friday David, a keke rider said the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) started the road and stopped half way.

He added that over one hundred keke riders pay N300.00 every day to government revenue collectors.

He said, “In April, all drivers paid N10,000 as riders permit, yet the road is not motorable. Most of the money we make go back to motor parts. The place we go to with N80.00 is now N150,00 because of the bad road. We are pleading to the governor to please come and help us, we voted for him and he should help us.”

A visit to the NDDC office in Benin met a brick wall as nobody wanted to speak to journalists.

State of the abandoned Uteh road.

A senior worker who met with journalists, but refused to mention his name, however said he was new in Benin, but promised that the management will look into It.

“I don’t know anything about that contract, I am new in Benin City, and the person that supposed to give an answer to your question is on leave, the management will look into.”

Metro

Court Sentences Man To Death For Killing Son

Published

46 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Kano State High Court has sentenced Abubakar Alhaji Sabo to death by hanging after finding him guilty of killing his newborn son.

The Kano State Government prosecuted Sabo before the court on charges of culpable homicide and causing grievous harm.

He was accused of force-feeding the infant with a local insecticide known as ‘fiya-fiya’, resulting in the child’s death.

Sabo killed the baby after the mother, his girlfriend, refused to obey his instruction to kill the child to avoid the shame of fathering a child out of wedlock.

Following the incident, he was also found guilty of striking the girlfriend’s father on the head with a brick after he caught Sabo poisoning the baby.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Safiya Yalwati Yahaya, presented three witnesses, while the defendant testified in his own defence.

After reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, Justice Aisha Yau, who presided over the case, found him guilty of infanticide and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The court also imposed an additional three-year prison sentence for causing grievous harm.

Metro

Nine Kwara Victims: Kidnappers Insist On N300m Ransom

Published

49 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

No progress has been recorded on the bandits demand for N300m ransom for the release of nine victims abducted in Adanla community of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.

Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District, Zubair Olaitan, disclosed this on Wednesday.

According to DAILY POST, the bandits have so far made three contacts with the community leaders that “if the N300m is not paid, the victims will not be released.”

The bandits seized the nine victims in an attempt to abduct the King of the community, and his wife on Boxing Day, but failed.

The King, David Olarinoye, was away to Igbaja town for a programme when the armed bandits invaded his community.

The bandits, however, later seized nine other victims in the community and marched them to the bush.

While seven victims were abducted at the palace of the King, two others were captured on their way to the bush.

Following the abduction, the bandits demanded a N300m for the release of the abducted victims, resisting any negotiations for reduction of the ransom.

Metro

Man Arrested In Edo For Alleged Abduction Of 4-year-old

Published

15 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

21-year-old ThankGod Destiny has been arrested by the Edo State Security Corps, ESSC, for allegedly kidnapping a four-year-old boy in the state.

Deputy Corps Commander, Operations, of the ESSC, Richard Balogun, who disclosed this to newsmen in Benin on Thursday, said the suspect has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Balogun, while disclosing that the incident happened on January 4, 2026 at Ikpoba Hill, Benin, said the arrest of the suspect followed an alarm raised by a commercial bus driver and a female passenger.

The ESSC commander said, “On January 4, 2026, a woman went out with her son at lkpoba Hill in Benin city. A few minutes later, the son disappeared from her sight.
This suspect identified as ThankGod Destiny had allegedly kidnapped the four-year-old boy.

“The little boy was hurriedly taken into a commercial bus going towards kings Square in Benin city.

“The driver of the bus who noticed a great difference in resemblance between the little boy and the man, however questioned where he was heading with the little boy.

“He lied that the boy is ill and he is taking him to the hospital. But later on, a female passenger asked him about his destination with the boy. He replied that he was going to buy the boy shoe.

“The various replies made the driver and the woman raise the alarm. The alarm attracted men of the Edo State Security Corps who were on patrol. The suspect was immediately arrested and the kidnapped little boy rescued unhurt.”

Balogun, who said the victim has been reunited with his family, assured that the Corps will continue to hunt for criminals in the state.